Derbyshire County Council is introducing a new vehicle Automatic Number Plate Recognition registration scheme for residents at its household waste recycling centres to deter costly interlopers despite an accusation that it is implementing ‘Big Brother’ tactics.
The council scheme is part of cost-saving plans following large increases in waste disposal at its nine waste centres and after a multi-million pound out-of-court settlement payout by the council and Derby City Council following a dispute with a waste management team over a waste facility in Derby.
Liberal Democrat Chesterfield Borough Councillor, Tom Snowdon, previously criticised the Conservative council’s vehicle ANPR plans as a ‘Big Brother Scheme – Watching What You Throw Away’ and as a waste of money on ‘spy cameras’ to observe what people are recycling.
However, arrangements have now been put in place for the new £200,000 Derbyshire residents-only registration scheme to ensure those using the county’s household waste recycling centres are entitled to do so.
Cllr Carolyn Renwick, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment, said: “This registration scheme will make things fairer and more cost effective for Derbyshire residents. Our neighbouring counties have introduced similar schemes and with this change each area will be dealing with and paying for its own waste and recycling.
“It’s all part of our efforts to strike the right balance between continuing to provide a good quality service for residents and making the necessary savings.
“Registering is quick and easy and available to do now, so I would encourage residents to register as soon as possible.”
The introduction of the new scheme follows a 32per cent increase in the amount of waste collected at the sites since 2017/18 which has risen to 85,000 tonnes a year, costing an extra £700,000 to £800,000 in annual recycling and disposal costs, according to the council.
Entry to the recycling centres will be monitored using ANPR technology which had previously been considered to not only identify vehicle interlopers from outside Derbyshire but to allow for them to be possibly charged for using the county’s waste sites.
However, the council stated that under the finalised scheme Derbyshire residents who are not registered or visitors who are from outside the county will not be able to use the centres.
Each Derbyshire resident over the age of 17 can register up to two vehicles and registration is free of charge and covers all of the council’s nine recycling centres.
Residents registering a van to dispose of their household waste will be required to register each time they wish to visit and access will last 24 hours.
The council stated this is to help deter traders from using the service for free at the expense of local council tax-payers.
Residents can now register their vehicles by visiting www.derbyshire.gov.
While the council does not plan to turn away unregistered vehicles immediately, it stated that residents will be reminded to sign up during their next visit, and to avoid any future issues the council is encouraging everyone to register as soon as possible.
Those who are unable to register online can call into their nearest Derbyshire library for help and anyone unable to register online or at their library can phone Call Derbyshire on 01629 533190 for help.
The council has also introduced a new trade waste scheme for small businesses and independent traders to dispose of trade waste at two of its household waste recycling centres with an unlimited number of visits.
They will be able to use the centres at Stonegravels, in Chesterfield, and at Ashbourne, from 8.30am to 9.30am and from 5pm to 6pm daily when the facilities will be closed to the public.
Traders are charged to dispose of their trade waste according to the type of waste and its weight which will be checked on a weighbridge and payment will be by card only.
Registration will be required to use this service and traders must register on the council website www.derbyshire.gov.
Traders are also urged to check they have the correct documentation to transport waste but if they do not they can register or renew by visiting the Government’s website at https://www.gov.uk/
Cllr Renwick said: “This new service offers a simple, flexible and cost-effective way to dispose of business waste and is open to all businesses in Derbyshire.
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